Thursday, August 14, 2008
Osage, New Hampton, Mason City
My day began at one of the most innovative and green businesses we have in Iowa. The Fox River Mills company takes packaging, boxes, magazines, plastic film and yarn cones and turns them in to socks. From start to finish, the socks are made in Osage. When I first arrived I chatted with John and Becky Lessard, who own and run the company, as well as my good friend, Wes Birdsall. They had some concerns about issues that have an impact on their business such as high oil prices, NAFTA and immigration. We had a good conversation and I was glad to share my thoughts with them.
Another aspect of the company we discussed is their focus on a healthy workforce. A couple of years ago, Fox River Mills partnered with IHS Consultants to devise a wellness plan. They removed unhealthy foods and drinks from the break room, encouraged people who smoke to quit and provided their employees with incentives to make positive changes in their lives. I believe that we need to shift our energy and our thinking in America to creating a "wellness society" – a society that emphasizes good nutrition, physical activity, and disease prevention. That is why I introduced the Healthy Workforce Act to give a tax credit to companies who offer a comprehensive wellness program to help their employees get healthy and stay healthy. I am very excited about the results Fox River Mills have seen in such a short time of offering these programs.
Just across town, I stopped at the first finished building in the Cedar River Complex. Just a few years ago, the city of Osage came together to plan a new community center. But this is a lot more than just a single building. When finished in 2010, the complex will house a gym, pool, auditorium, wellness center, and museum among other things. I was impressed when they told me that all of the funding came from public and private sources, not a municipal bond. On top of that, all of the buildings will be green, incorporating geothermal heating and cooling along with other environmentally friendly practices. If the building we met in is an indicator of what is to come, I am sure the people of Osage will be proud to showcase the new Cedar River Complex.
My next stop was in New Hampton to meet with local leaders about economic development issues and answer questions they have. I like to use these opportunities to listen to what is going on in towns across Iowa and talk to the people who are really affected by what we do in Washington. We had a wide ranging discussion, from energy to health care, agriculture to the recent floods. I was happy to hear their thoughts and ideas for the future.
The last stop of my day was at the Mason City library where I met with some of the people who run and participate in a diabetes screening and support program. In 2007, the North Iowa Community Action Agency applied for and received one of 12 grants nationwide from the U.S. Office of Women’s Health to provide education and support to women who have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes. This program focuses on a whole body approach to control their disease. Diet, nutrition, sleep, self esteem, relaxation and stress management are all incorporated into this program. Deb Walsh from Emmetsburg, a participant in the program, told me how impressed she is with everything that she has learned. She really appreciates the multi faceted approach along with the hands on learning. Participants work in groups to change their diet, get exercise and have a peer support group to help them along the way. Since the first set of screenings took place last January, 186 women in six counties have been found with previously undiagnosed diabetes. I had a good time chatting with the people involved with the program. They are inspiring and have lots of information to share with others.
